Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-05-31
!. vIudIctlvo oniccr.

otthis Kind occurred where
Who had been professional
''pinsl and who had Expressed
Sns 70 reform, was given employ
through my fundamentally
Hsa' abroad company. | followed
~ ~, = inc rule in this case as had
.a.'ssoo's and explained to those
Low Loving him just what his past rec
' y lad been. He was put in posi-
@' here there was no opportunity
" him to steal, and where no special
,ation was held out to him; he
rD !. s;ren place as brakeman. Some
~ - months after he was employed
-" oscer called on the manager OF
abroad company and explained
y him who his brakeman
After hearing the officers story
.,,nerindentent OF the railroad
,snpany told him that all the inior-
wi lion which he had given to him
= "a even more than he had given, had
Ion nlaced in his possession by the
..soo who had recommended the
f ,.smed criminal for employment.
~ 1sS' Superintendent afterward told me
nst from the vindictive way the Of
ss s spoke OF the man. there must
s.rs been some personal feeling exist
~ '. between them IN time past, as he
~ y snperintendent) had asked the
!Scar the same question If he didn't
.s;uk there was some chance of this
ssn reforming if he were let alone,
a ana the officer replied that he did not
tsfeve that he would ever reform. A
III or so later this man, while at
.ork was arrested on an old charge
Inch had lain dormant for several
,sars. After his arrest the man sent
n me and explained that it was
mtirely vindictiveness on the
.srt Of the officer that caused the ar
1T: that when he had been a crimi-
Al he had had trouble with this detec-
i've. and that he was now prosecuting
him because it lay in his power to do
o and that he was urging him to ac-
opt plea OF guilty. ! said to this
man that if he would stand up and 90
INTO court and explain to tie judge
INST what his true position was in the
matter, and that he was endeavoring
to make an honest living, and show
he motive that caused his arrest, l
believed even, il he were guilty, that
ths court would deal leniently with
him. and as far as it lay in my power
i would aid him in showing up the
motive for prosecuting him at this
time | also promised to have
The superintendent OF the rail.
road company come forward
and state his knowledge of tine mat
ter in regard to the call of the officer
to causs his discharge. He agreed to
al this, but was finally led into a
Plea OF guilty on condition that he
would only get short term in prison;
and this was carried out. | met this
man one night after his release and
asked him what he intended to do.
He then told me that there was no
Use for any one trying to reform
that he had made the effort two or
three times and had been bounded
back into life of crime, and thaC he
might as well have the game as the
name. A year or two afterwards he
vas again arrested on II charge of
which he WAS undoubtedly guilty, and
vas sentenced to fifteen years i'm
Fisonment. Now, here was q case of
bright, intelligent young man who
frmy believe could have been reform
dhad he been allowed to continue
his employment and been given an
ordinary chance to make a living
Robert A. Pinkerton in Louisville
COurer-J journal.